Israeli Basketball Federation Criticizes Players Missing National Team Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers

Following Israel's recent losses to Croatia and Germany in the World Cup qualifiers, the Israeli Basketball Federation convened a meeting on Tuesday to address the issue of player absences. The national team is scheduled to play two upcoming matches in Latvia against Poland and Latvia on August 21 as part of the second qualifying round, preceded by a friendly against Georgia. Federation chairman Amos Frishman described the recent qualifying window as "embarrassing, painful, and frustrating" and expressed disappointment over players not responding to the national team call-up, calling it unacceptable and disrespectful to fans and the community.

Frishman emphasized that representing Israel is a contribution to the community and that the national team jersey symbolizes honor and commitment. He urged team captain Tomer Ginat to engage with players who missed the current window to encourage their participation in the upcoming matches. Despite the criticism, the federation does not currently plan to impose sanctions on absent players but will hold a meeting on September 8 to discuss regulations regarding player participation, naturalized players, and athletes' status in the Israel Defense Forces.

Team manager Moti Daniel acknowledged the challenges players face after demanding seasons but stressed that playing for the national team requires sacrifice. Several key players, including Roman Sorkin, Tamir Blatt, Bar Timor, Yam Madar, and Idan Zalmanson, are expected to participate in the August window. However, NBA player Deni Avdija is unlikely to join due to insurance issues outside the NBA, and captain Tomer Ginat is recovering from injury and may not play. The federation remains hopeful about Israel's chances to qualify for the World Cup and expects full player commitment moving forward.